A directory of Holy Cross priests says 76-year-old Ryan was based in Fort Portal, Uganda, from 1967 until 1999. He also served in Kenya before returning to the order's provincial house in South Bend in 2001.

Rhoades appointed Ryan the administrator of the Fort Wayne parish in December 2011 after his predecessor, the Rev. Thomas Lombardi, was removed because of a sexual abuse allegation. The abuse by Lombardi was alleged to have taken place at a previous parish.